Stephanie Blore & making allergies impossible to miss
For this month’s Allergy Spotlight, we are so proud to introduce Stephanie Blore, co-founder of EMS Clips (Eating.More.Safely Clips), alongside her husband Carrick. What began as a frightening and deeply personal experience with their baby daughter grew into something that is changing the way allergy awareness works for families of the very youngest children. Through beautifully simple dummy clips and bibs designed to make allergies visible, Stephanie and Carrick have created a tool that keeps babies safe without making their allergies the only thing people see.
In this conversation, Stephanie reflects on the GP visits that still sting, the nursery anxiety that most allergy parents know all too well, and a deeply held belief that every child deserves to feel safe and still just be a kid.
What inspired you to start EMS Clips?
EMS Clips was born out of fear, frustration, and the overwhelming responsibility of keeping our daughter safe.
At just 16 weeks old, she was hospitalised after repeated GP visits where our concerns were initially dismissed. I was made to feel like, and told by a GP, that I was a “silly mummy.” Following a severe reaction, she was fitted with an NG feeding tube and was eventually diagnosed with a milk allergy. As we began the weaning journey, more allergies followed, including egg, soy, peanuts, strawberries, and tomatoes.
As parents of a child too young to communicate her allergies, we quickly realised how frightening everyday situations could feel. When she started nursery, that anxiety only intensified. We constantly worried: what if a new staff member didn’t know? What if early symptoms were missed? What if someone simply forgot?
We searched for something simple, clear, and immediate that could help keep her safe, but nothing existed. So we decided to create it ourselves.
That is how Eating.More.Safely (EMS) Clips began; a simple visual safety tool designed to make allergy awareness impossible to miss, giving parents greater peace of mind and helping to protect babies and toddlers in everyday environments.
What have other parents of children with food allergies said about your business?
The response from other allergy parents has been incredibly positive and supportive. So many families immediately understood the fear and anxiety that inspired EMS Clips, because they live it every day too.
There are lots of allergy alert products on the market, but we discovered there was very little designed specifically with babies and toddlers in mind. When I searched for something my daughter could wear to clearly and safely alert caregivers to her allergies, everything seemed to fall short. Stickers wouldn’t stay on for long enough, and products like pin badges or bracelets simply weren’t safe or practical for babies and toddlers to wear.
Parents have told us how reassuring it feels to finally have something their little one can comfortably wear that helps make their allergies visible and easier for others to remember. Hearing families say EMS Clips gives them greater peace of mind has been incredibly emotional and rewarding for us.
How has using these products within your own family life helped you feel more at peace?
Our products were designed from real everyday experiences, so using them within our own family life has genuinely helped reduce some of the anxiety that comes with managing multiple food allergies in a young child.
The dummy clip became incredibly useful, not only as a clear visual reminder that our daughter has food allergies, but also in practical ways we hadn’t even expected. It helped stop her dummy from constantly falling onto the floor, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and preventing other babies from accidentally picking it up and using it. When she didn’t want or need her dummy, we would clip it onto the pushchair, changing bag, or highchair so her allergy alerts were still clearly visible to others around her.
The bib has also become part of our everyday routine. Every baby, especially a weaning baby, needs a bib, so creating one with an allergy alert felt both practical and purposeful. We use ours at home, keep one at nursery, and always have one packed in our changing bag for meals out.
What has been most reassuring is how naturally it encourages awareness. It acts as a gentle visual reminder to restaurant staff, caregivers, family members, and people at social gatherings that allergies exist and need to be taken seriously. It also helps prevent well-meaning people from offering food without checking first.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to a parent who has just received their child’s allergy diagnosis and is feeling completely overwhelmed?
The biggest piece of advice I would give is: don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
Every child’s allergies are different, and even the same allergen can affect people in completely different ways. What works for one family may not work for another, so it’s important to do what feels right and manageable for your child and your family. Trust your instincts, take advice from medical professionals, and allow yourself time to build confidence in managing your child’s allergies and medication day to day.
In the beginning, it can feel incredibly overwhelming, carrying medication everywhere, checking every label, and constantly thinking ahead. But over time, it does become part of your routine.
One thing I have learned is that allergy parents are amazing at supporting one another. There is a strong, understanding community out there filled with people who truly understand the fears, challenges, and emotions that come with raising a child with allergies. You are never as alone as you may feel in those early days.
How does EMS Clips help bridge the gap between keeping a child safe and letting them simply be a kid?
From the very beginning, we wanted EMS Clips to be a gentle reminder that a child has food allergies, without overwhelming them or making allergies their whole identity. We intentionally chose not to list every allergen or include lots of medical details on the products.
Allergies can change over time. Children may outgrow some and develop new ones, so we wanted a product that stayed relevant throughout their journey rather than something that quickly became outdated. We also believe it is important that the right people know the detailed medical information when needed, but not necessarily everyone around them. As children grow older, many don’t want all of their classmates or peers to know their medical conditions, and we wanted to respect that privacy while still promoting safety and awareness.
We also wanted children to genuinely enjoy wearing EMS Clips. By keeping the designs bright, simple, and fun, with a friendly character and colourful styles, the children and toddlers we trialled them with saw them as something fun to wear rather than something clinical or restrictive.
Most importantly, our products are designed to grow with the child. What begins as a dummy or comforter clip for a baby can later be worn as a bracelet as they become more independent, without needing to replace or adapt the product. And if a child doesn’t want to wear it directly, it can still be attached to a backpack, lunchbox, highchair, changing bag, or pushchair.
For us, EMS Clips is about creating a balance between safety and independence, helping children stay protected while still allowing them to feel confident, included, and most importantly, like kids.
Stephanie’s story is a reminder that some of the most meaningful products in the world are born in hospital wards, nursery drop-offs, and the terror of a parent watching a new staff member handle their child’s snack bag.
What she and Carrick have built is a true moment of calm amid all that fear. A simple, visible signal that says, “This child needs a little extra attention; please take the time to engage.” And for parents who have spent years feeling dismissed or overlooked, that signal means everything.
Because every child deserves to feel safe. And every child deserves to feel like a kid.
You can find EMS Clips at www.emsclip.com and follow along on Instagram at @ems_clip.
